Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-04-21
preston frightened me SO tia { caught

ETHEL" she said, very sadly, II
must tell you, though you'll hate me.
The boy who brought that note brought
one for Mrs. Bray"
was so relieved that burst into a
fit of laughter.
"Why should that trouble mcp
inquired.
don't you see your Harry must have
written both?" she asked.
NO." said ], II do not. / am not
jealous of Harry"
Then broke the seal, and these were
the words 1 read:
am obliged to decline yours.
II. HEATHcoTE.
/ put the old billet down with q
strange chill at my heart. What had
I done to deserve this? What did it
meaD2 What should / do? A note
like this from a betrothed lover from
whom had parted with the tcnderest
caressese Ef1ie saw that was in
trouble and forebore to question me,
but she glided out of the room and did
not return for an hour. When she
came back her face was wet with tears.
you cannot tell me what it TSP"
she asked.
answered:
''Fmust have offended film uncon-
sciouslv. ] can't say anything more. "
When the dinner bell rang l went
down stairs as usual. Passing tho
parlor door saw Mrs. Bray. She was
reading note aloud.
II declare, ! never was so sur
prised," she said. Il thought he was
in love with that little girl. All! there
she comes
She hurried away rs she spoke. in as
sumcd terror. The next moment
saw Effic speak to her and white
paper pass into her hand. Whatever
it was she knew and she would tell me.
She did That evening she brought 4
letter into my roOm-a letter that Mrs.
Bray had exhibited to all the housc-a
love-letter from Harry Heathcote, ten
derer and more passionate than any
he had ever written TO me, and with
his undoubted signature at its foot. 1t
was no forgery. | even knew the
paper, Il rare and costly kind, with his
own monogram upon it, 1t began
Darling" and ended Your own
Harry" did not scream. did not
swoon: ! faced the terrible truth as
best | might. She had won him from
me, but was nowise to blame. | was
true. | was sinned against, not sim
ming, and the blow should not crush
me.
did not allow myself to play the
mourner. Contempt of my lover had
taken the place of love.
He should know that | did not grieve
for him; and asked good old Mr.. Hal
loran to be my escort. and went to the
party next evening with smile on my
face, though nv heart ached sorely.
and life seemed cold and cruel thing
to me.
They told me was gay that night.
l chatted, | ate and drank, l danced
| whenever ! was asked to. All the
while the words of that letter Harry
had written to Mrs. Bray were in my
| heart.
When old Mr.. Halloran took me
home he told me | had ''wearied my
self out, and was beginning to feel il. y"
But | was strong yet.
Tomorrow | had work to do that
would demand all my strength-tO take
the matter into my own hand, to write
an adcu to Charlr, send him back the
gifts and letters in my possession and
ask mine of him. As | went up stairs
old Mrs. Morton looked out of her
| room.
Your beau was here tonight" she
said Il expect he was cut up TO find
you out, but Mrs. Bray took care of
| him."
tried to laugh All my life | felt |
must now laugh when | had rather
cry. | must hide my heart No one
should ever call me disappointed
woman. No one should speak of me
as one who had been Tilted.
wrapped myself in my dressing
gown and sat before my fire. could
not sleep. / could not even lie down.
The clock struck II, |, 2. and still !
watched the dying embers. Ten min
utes more had gone by, when suddenly
frightful shrek ran through the
house-another and another | rush
ed to the door. Other people were in
the entry. The shrieks came from Mrs.
Bray's room, and. ere she could open
it, it was flung wide and she rushed
toward us. her long, white robe ali
ablazc, horrible moving column OF
fire.
| don't know what | thought.
don't know what l did. cannot re-
member anything more until | had
her down upon the floor, with blank,
ct that had snatched from pile that
lay on the table in the entry wrapped
about her. | heard myself crying,
Lie still, and you will save your face"
And saw the flames choke out, and
the light, black finder floating about
me. and knew that had at least saved
her from being burned to death. Soon
knew that had saved her life.
1t was night again when some one
came to my door, and told me tina
Mrs. Bray wished to see me. OF cours,
/ went to her. She was lying in hel
bed. wrapped in bandages. and she
could not stir, but she looked at IN,
earnestly.
Send them out of the ROOM" she
said, Il want to speak to you alone. VI
And when the nurse had closed tn,
door between herself and Mrs. Horton
she looked at me again in the sam,
strange way.
''You saved my life," she said; Eyes
and l remember what you said: Lii
ILL